Report: Why Ola Aina left Super Eagles camp for Nottingham

Former Torino FC defender, Ola Aina, has left the Super Eagles camp ahead of their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash against Rwanda, Soccernet.ng reports.

Ola Aina’s early departure from the Super Eagles camp has sparked discussions, but according to the team’s media officer, Promise Efoghe, the decision was made at the request of his club, Nottingham Forest.

The Premier League side appealed to interim coach Austin Eguavoen to release Aina early where they cited the importance of their upcoming clash against Arsenal. With Nigeria’s qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) already secured, Eguavoen agreed to the request.

The exit of the Nottingham Forest degender comes just hours after he featured prominently in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Benin Republic.

The versatile defender impressed on the right flank, where in a standout moment he dribbled past an opponent before drawing a foul.

His departure initially raised concerns about his fitness, especially after a video shared by Alex Iwobi showed Aina saying, “I am not doing fine.” However, reports confirm that his return to England is unrelated to any injury.

With Aina unavailable for the partial clash against Rwanda on Monday, Fenerbahce defender Bright Osayi-Samuel is expected to step up. Meanwhile, the rest of the Super Eagles squad is back in Nigeria preparing for the encounter.

Aina’s return provides Nuno Espirito Santo’s troops with a timely boost as they gear up for a challenging Premier League fixture against Arsenal.